Source:REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
[Saba Sports News] With Isack Hadjar confirmed as Max Verstappen’s new teammate for the 2026 season, the Red Bull team has once again undergone a driver change in a few short years. In response, former F1 driver and current commentator Karun Chandhok stated that the issue faced by Red Bull is not about who to choose, but whether they want to focus solely on supporting Verstappen for the driver championship or also aim to reclaim the constructors’ championship. Since Daniel Ricciardo left at the end of the 2018 season, Red Bull has struggled to stabilize their second driver. Pierre Gasly lasted only 12 races; Alexander Albon also failed to secure a long-term position. Sergio Perez then served for four years, going from being a key contributor to Verstappen’s championship win in 2021 to departing quietly at the end of the 2024 season. In 2025, Liam Lawson was promoted to the main team but was demoted after just two races, swapping positions with Yuki Tsunoda. However, Tsunoda scored only 30 points in the entire 22-race season and also lost his official seat. Now, the pressure falls on the newly promoted Hadjar. Chandhok points out that the core issue lies in the development direction of the Red Bull car. In the editor’s view, if Red Bull is only betting on Verstappen and pursuing the prestige of the driver championship, they must accept the reality of a struggling second driver. However, if they want both, a change in the car’s development direction is necessary.